Imran Madden has been Director of Islamic Relief UK since October 2015. He has more than 16 years of experience in the humanitarian sector, spending 11 years in leadership roles at Islamic Relief.
Imran previously headed the Humanitarian Department at Islamic Relief Worldwide, where he was UK Manager from 2000 to 2002 and Emergencies Manager from 1997 to 2000. He has travelled extensively in the course of leading some of IR’s biggest humanitarian responses in Sudan, Bosnia, Kosovo, Philippines, the Central African Republic, Sierra Leone and Nepal.
His achievements include delivering Islamic Relief’s very first institutionally-funded project in Sudan in 1993 and doubling IR UK’s income while UK Manager.
He has appeared regularly on national and international television news and radio programmes to raise public awareness of humanitarian crises.
A graduate from St Mary’s University, Twickenham in 1987, before working in humanitarian aid he was a teacher, including several years as Head of Geography in a London school.
1) What is your current position?
I am the UK Director of Islamic Relief.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
Apart from family matters, I think it would be leading on very challenging humanitarian responses from Kosovo to the Philippines and the Mediterranean refugee crisis.
3) What inspires you?
Seeing the impact of timely and effective humanitarian action. There is currently a lot of debate and, dare I say it, scepticism about the effectiveness of aid. While some criticism is valid, I feel the public don’t always see the real impact of aid and the important role played by UK Aid and UK NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisations).
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
I have had some great jobs – I was also a teacher for 10 years. There have been obstacles when I have planned humanitarian responses. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is trying to get people and systems to speed up, as this is sometimes frustrating.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Dr Hany El Banna, founding trustee of Islamic Relief. He instilled in us that everything is possible if you put your mind to it. You never went into a meeting and said, “We can’t do this.” There have been many situations where I have negotiated three or four seemingly impossible obstacles and then made something work.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
No two days are the same and I get to do wildly different things all in one day. It could be something around grassroots fundraising in the morning, a media interview in the afternoon about our humanitarian aid work, followed by some parliamentary engagement – our office is only 15 minutes away from Westminster.
7) And the worst?
There aren’t many examples, but I would have to say stress. When five things go wrong in one afternoon, you have to be very philosophical. I have taught Year 9 schoolchildren on a Friday afternoon – so what could be more stressful than that?
8) What are your long-term goals?
I am very honoured to be UK Director – it has enormous responsibility and huge rewards. I don’t tend to look too far ahead.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
Our political structures seem to promote confrontation and polemic posturing. I would like to see more cross-party joint action on key issues. Maybe we need a new House of Commons where MPs sit in a circle and intermingle a bit more. Do they have to sit opposite each other in such a combative manner?
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
The most influential historical figure for me is Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) but from recent history I think it would be the former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela. He is often chosen for this spot, but to me he just stands out as a visionary who was entirely free from resentment and malice and for his pragmatic leadership that ended apartheid and started a new chapter of South African history.
